1MAUI VORTEX &ATLANTIS MOTHERLAND

present:

ATLANTISfrom the: The Dialogues of Plato

Portions of Timaeus and the existing portion of Critias, by Plato (360 BC)translated by Benjamin Jowett New York, C. Scribners Sons (1871)

Easy reference column and comments by Flying Eagle & Whispering Wind (2005)

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Portions of Timaeus and the existing portion of Critias, by Plato, describe the mightyancient Empire of Atlantis and the honorable Empire of the Hellenes; these dialoguesare conversations between Critias, Hermocrates, Timaeus and Socrates. They werehighly renowned Greek scientists and philosophers, who had gathered to prepare aprogram for the festival to the goddess, Athene. A young scribe, known by the nickname,Plato (broad shoulders), eagerly recorded the details of their conversation. Later thisyoung scribes obsession with gathering, saving and sharing knowledge would inspirehim to found, The Academy; commonly referred to as the first modern university. Duringthis conversation Critias, recited an ancient unfinished poem, which he had memorizedwhen he was 10 years old. This poem was written by Solon, the wisest of the sevensages of Greece. This poem reveals the ancient history, culture, geography, politics;...and the catastrophic destruction of these two ancient empires.

The original dialogues may be downloaded from many sources onthe internet including: Project Gutenburg;

You may view or download; Critias and Timaeus.____________________________________________________________

coyright:COSMIC VORTEX, 2005

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2The Extraordinary Inundation of Atlantis and Attica;a catastrophic flood of biblical proportions.

According to The Dialogues of Plato; the mighty Empire of Atlantis and the hon-orable Empire of the Hellenes were destroyed by the natural catastrophes of earth-quakes and floods. The Atlantis Motherland book, and the newest research byFlying Eagle and Whispering Wind, present a revolutionary and controversialnew scenario, which supports the authenticity of these ancient sacred records. Wedescribe the sudden devastating earthquake and resulting catastrophic flood, whichwas of truly biblical proportions. This extraordinary inundation destroyed thebulk of human civilization, during one terrible day and night of misfortune. Ifyou would like to ponder our research, visit our websites; atlantis-motherland.comand ATMO.info.

We discovered the location of Atlantis utilizing non-traditional scientific studies.We began our adventure comparing ancient American Indian legends anddeciphering American Indian petroglyphs and talking stones. We also incorporatedmore esoteric meta-sciences. The next step was to correlate our discoveries withthe most complete known record of Atlantis, which is recorded in the books ofCritias and Timaeus, in The Dialogues of Plato. We added notes and extra paragraphspacing to these ancient writings, for ease of comprehension. We hope you findthis quick-start guide to Platos Atlantis helpful to you during your own studies;especially if you are just becoming acquainted with this ancient epic tale.

The Horses of Neptune by Walter Crane, 1845-1915

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ContentsCritias, Hermocrates, Timaeus and Socrates; gather to plan a festival .......................................................... 5Critias memorized Solons poem, of the ancient Athenians, in his youth ......................................................... 6Solon traveled to Egypt, and met a priest of very great age ............................................................................ 7The Myth of Helios, explained as a natural astronomical event:..................................................................... 7Why the Egyptians have ancient records; and the Greeks do not: ................................................................... 8The aged priest describes ancient Athens to Solon: ......................................................................................... 9Introduction to the war and the destruction of two ancient Empires ............................................................. 10Critias offers to tell this ancient tale, which is a fact and not a fiction ......................................................... 11Critias prays for knowledge and asks forbearance ........................................................................................ 12Introduction of the combatants of the war..................................................................................................... 13History of the Hellenes; Hephaestus & Athene found ancient Athens ........................................................... 14Classes of citizens in ancient Athens .............................................................................................................. 15Description of the remnant of Attica .............................................................................................................. 15The primal state of ancient Athens and the extraordinary inundation ........................................................... 16Physical boundaries and culture of ancient Athens ....................................................................................... 17Why the original writing has Hellenic names ................................................................................................. 18Poseidon and Cleito found the City of Atlantis .............................................................................................. 18The Kings of Atlantis and their portions of the Empire.................................................................................. 19Geography and abundant natural resources of the Island of Atlantis ........................................................... 19The citizens of Atlantis build their city ........................................................................................................... 20The zones of land & sea; the wall around the city; towers, gates and bridges .............................................. 20 They quarried rock, hollowed out docks, and coated the walls with metals .................................................. 21The palaces and temples in the citadel of Atlantis ......................................................................................... 21The fountains, aqueducts, docks, gardens and guardhouses of the Citadel ................................................... 22The nature and arrangement of the rest of the land of Atlantis ..................................................................... 22How the Island of Atlantis was created; and the canal system ...................................................................... 23The military order of the royal city; and the requisitions for the war ............................................................ 23The commands of Poseidon, were inscribed on a pillar of orichalcum ......................................................... 25The slaying of the Bull Ceremony; and the Golden Tablets ........................................................................... 25For many generations, the divine nature lasted in within them ..................................................................... 26The divine portion began to fade away, and became diluted ......................................................................... 26We believe that we have found the location of Atlantis; ................................................................................. 27

4 The Grove of Accademia, Plato Teaching; by Joshua Cristall, 1768-1847

Visipix.com

THE ACADEMY; founded by Plato

In the grove of Academos, near Athens, in 387 BC; a brave adventurer began a mighty quest in search of rare and illusive treasure. He sought the knowledge of biology, mathematics, astronomy, geophysics, cosmology and meta-sciences. He endeavored to weave a common thread and bind the forms and functions, he studied, into a comprehensive philosophy; which could be used to preserve, protect and enlighten the aristocracy and citizenry. To mount a successful campaign, he needed generals and soldiers. The generals were a small group of fellow seekers for knowledge, armed with the wisdom of their predecessors, such as Solon, Socrates and Pythagoras. The soldiers were readily available in the eager young minds of the Athenian youth. Next he needed a headquarters; a place from which to launch expeditions in unknown realms; and a place to gather and organize the intelligence coming from the battlefields. Within this tranquil grove Plato established, The Academy; beneath the sheltering branches of these ancient trees, the quest continued for 900 years; until it was closed for teaching paganism.

5Critias, Hermocrates, Timaeus and Socrates; gather to plan a festival

Her. And we too, Socrates, as Timaeus says, will not be wanting in enthusiasm;and there is no excuse for not complying with your request. As soon as we arrivedyesterday at the guest-chamber of Critias, with whom we are staying, or ratheron our way thither, we talked the matter over, and he told us an ancient tradition,which I wish, Critias, that you would repeat to Socrates, so that he may help usto judge whether it will satisfy his requirements or not.

Crit. I will, if Timaeus, who is our other partner, approves.

Tim. I quite approve.

Crit. Then listen, Socrates, to a tale which, though strange, is certainly true,having been attested by Solon, who was the wisest of the seven sages. He was arelative and a dear friend of my great-grandfather, Dropides, as he himself says inmany passages of his poems; and he told the story to Critias, my grandfather,who remembered and repeated it to us. There were of old, he said, great andmarvellous actions of the Athenian city, which have passed into oblivion throughlapse of time and the destruction of mankind, and one in particular, greater thanall the rest. This we will now rehearse. It will be a fitting monument of our gratitudeto you, and a hymn of praise true and worthy of the goddess, on this her day offestival.

ATLANTIS & ATTICA

Portion of Timaeus, regarding Atlantis and the Hellenes, by Plato:

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Hermocrates asks ...Critias, to repeat toSocrates, ...an ancient tradition.

Listen...to a tale...certainly true...attested by Solon...There were of old,great and marvellousactions...which passedinto oblivion..(its)true and worthy ofthe goddess... festival.

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Persons of the Dialogue: CRITIAS; HERMOCRATES; TIMAEUS; SOCRATES

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.The tale of the mighty Empire of Atlantis andthe honorable Empire of the Hellenes,

the Gods and the Mortals that built them, and thefury of nature that destroyed them both.

from The Dialogues, by PlatoWith easy reference notes and comments by Eagle/Wind

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6Critias memorized Solons poem, of the ancient Athenians, in his youth

Soc. Very good. And what is this ancient famous action of the Athenians, whichCritias declared, on the authority of Solon, to be not a mere legend, but an actualfact?

Crit. I will tell an old-world story which I heard from an aged man; for Critias, atthe time of telling it, was as he said, nearly ninety years of age, and I was aboutten. Now the day was that day of the Apaturia which is called the Registration ofYouth, at which, according to custom, our parents gave prizes for recitations,and the poems of several poets were recited by us boys, and many of us sang thepoems of Solon, which at that time had not gone out of fashion. One of our tribe,either because he thought so or to please Critias, said that in his judgment Solonwas not only the wisest of men, but also the noblest of poets.The old man, as I very well remember, brightened up at hearing this and said,smiling: Yes, Amynander, if Solon had only, like other poets, made poetry thebusiness of his life, and had completed the tale which he brought with him fromEgypt, and had not been compelled, by reason of the factions and troubles whichhe found stirring in his own country when he came home, to attend to othermatters, in my opinion he would have been as famous as Homer or Hesiod, orany poet.

And what was the tale about, Critias? said Amynander.

About the greatest action which the Athenians ever did, and which ought to havebeen the most famous, but, through the lapse of time and the destruction of theactors, it has not come down to us.

Tell us, said the other, the whole story, and how and from whom Solon heard thisveritable tradition.

what is this ancient...action of the Athenians,

I will tell an old-worldstory...I ...recited...(inmy youth)...many of ussang the poems ofSolon,...; the wisest ofmen,... also the noblestof poets...

...if Solon...had completed the tale...hewould have been asfamous as Homer...

what was the tale about?

...the greatest actionwhich the Atheniansever did (was lost)

Tell us...how and fromwhom Solon heard this

7Solon traveled to Egypt, and met a priest of very great age

He replied:-In the Egyptian Delta, at the head of which the river Nile divides,there is a certain district which is called the district of Sais, and the great city ofthe district is also called Sais, and is the city from which King Amasis came. Thecitizens have a deity for their foundress; she is called in the Egyptian tongueNeith, and is asserted by them to be the same whom the Hellenes call Athene;they are great lovers of the Athenians, and say that they are in some way relatedto them. To this city came Solon, and was received there with great honour; heasked the priests who were most skilful in such matters, about antiquity, andmade the discovery that neither he nor any other Hellene knew anything worthmentioning about the times of old.

On one occasion, wishing to draw them on to speak of antiquity, he began to tellabout the most ancient things in our part of the world-about Phoroneus, who iscalled the first man, and about Niobe; and after the Deluge, of the survival ofDeucalion and Pyrrha; and he traced the genealogy of their descendants, andreckoning up the dates, tried to compute how many years ago the events ofwhich he was speaking happened.

Thereupon one of the priests, who was of a very great age, said: O Solon, Solon,you Hellenes are never anything but children, and there is not an old man amongyou. Solon in return asked him what he meant. I mean to say, he replied, that inmind you are all young; there is no old opinion handed down among you byancient tradition, nor any science which is hoary with age. And I will tell you why.

There have been, and will be again, many destructions of mankind arising out ofmany causes; the greatest have been brought about by the agencies of fire andwater, and other lesser ones by innumerable other causes.

The Myth of Helios, explained as a natural astronomical event:

There is a story, which even you have preserved, that once upon a time Paethon,the son of Helios, having yoked the steeds in his fathers chariot, because he wasnot able to drive them in the path of his father, burnt up all that was upon theearth, and was himself destroyed by a thunderbolt. Now this has the form of amyth, but really signifies a declination of the bodies moving in the heavens aroundthe earth, and a great conflagration of things upon the earth, which recurs afterlong intervals; at such times those who live upon the mountains and in dry andlofty places are more liable to destruction than those who dwell by rivers or onthe seashore. And from this calamity the Nile, who is our never-failing saviour,delivers and preserves us.

He replied: In theEgyptian Delta, thedistrict of Sais,...Neith,... was thefoundress; she is thesame...deity... as AtheneTo this city cameSolon...he asked thepriests...about antiquity

Solon...began to tell...about ancient things...after the Deluge...and ...tried to compute howmany years ago theevents...happened.

...one of the priests, whowas of a very great age,said: O Solon,...there isno old opinion handeddown among you...

There have been...many destructions ofmankind...

There is a story ...that...Helios... burntup...the earth...this is amyth...a declination ofthe bodies moving in theheavens around earth......those who live ...inmountains...are liable todestruction.

8Why the Egyptians have ancient records; and the Greeks do not:

When, on the other hand, the gods purge the earth with a deluge of water, thesurvivors in your country are herdsmen and shepherds who dwell on the mountains,but those who, like you, live in cities are carried by the rivers into the sea. Whereasin this land, neither then nor at any other time, does the water come down fromabove on the fields, having always a tendency to come up from below; for whichreason the traditions preserved here are the most ancient.

The fact is, that wherever the extremity of winter frost or of summer does notprevent, mankind exist, sometimes in greater, sometimes in lesser numbers. Andwhatever happened either in your country or in ours, or in any other region ofwhich we are informed-if there were any actions noble or great or in any otherway remarkable, they have all been written down by us of old, and are preservedin our temples.

Whereas just when you and other nations are beginning to be provided withletters and the other requisites of civilized life, after the usual interval, the streamfrom heaven, like a pestilence, comes pouring down, and leaves only those ofyou who are destitute of letters and education; and so you have to begin all overagain like children, and know nothing of what happened in ancient times, eitheramong us or among yourselves. As for those genealogies of yours which you justnow recounted to us, Solon, they are no better than the tales of children. In thefirst place you remember a single deluge only, but there were many previousones;

in the next place, you do not know that there formerly dwelt in your land thefairest and noblest race of men which ever lived, and that you and your whole cityare descended from a small seed or remnant of them which survived. And thiswas unknown to you, because, for many generations, the survivors of thatdestruction died, leaving no written word.

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When...the gods purgethe earth...with water...those who, like you,live in cities are carriedby the rivers to the sea...

And whatever happened...in your country or inours,...any actions nobleor great...are preservedin our temples.

Whereas...you... afterthe usual interval, ...astream from heavencomes and leaves onlythose destitute of letters...you have to begin allover again like children,and know nothing of...many previous (deluges)

...formerly dwelt in yourland ... the fairest &noblest race... , thesurvivors, leaving nowritten word.

9The aged priest describes ancient Athens to Solon:

For there was a time, Solon, before the great deluge of all, when the city whichnow is Athens was first in war and in every way the best governed of all cities, issaid to have performed the noblest deeds and to have had the fairest constitutionof any of which tradition tells, under the face of heaven.

Solon marvelled at his words, and earnestly requested the priests to inform himexactly and in order about these former citizens. You are welcome to hear aboutthem, Solon, said the priest, both for your own sake and for that of your city, andabove all, for the sake of the goddess who is the common patron and parent andeducator of both our cities.

She founded your city a thousand years before ours, receiving from the Earthand Hephaestus the seed of your race, and afterwards she founded ours, of whichthe constitution is recorded in our sacred registers to be eight thousand yearsold.

As touching your citizens of nine thousand years ago, I will briefly inform you oftheir laws and of their most famous action; the exact particulars of the whole wewill hereafter go through at our leisure in the sacred registers themselves. If youcompare these very laws with ours you will find that many of ours are thecounterpart of yours as they were in the olden time. In the first place, there is thecaste of priests, which is separated from all the others; next, there are the artificers,who ply their several crafts by themselves and do not intermix; and also there isthe class of shepherds and of hunters, as well as that of husbandmen; and you willobserve, too, that the warriors in Egypt are distinct from all the other classes,and are commanded by the law to devote themselves solely to military pursuits;moreover, the weapons which they carry are shields and spears, a style ofequipment which the goddess taught of Asiatics first to us, as in your part of theworld first to you.

Then as to wisdom, do you observe how our law from the very first made a studyof the whole order of things, extending even to prophecy and medicine whichgives health, out of these divine elements deriving what was needful for humanlife, and adding every sort of knowledge which was akin to them.

All this order and arrangement the goddess first imparted to you when establishingyour city; and she chose the spot of earth in which you were born, because shesaw that the happy temperament of the seasons in that land would produce thewisest of men. Wherefore the goddess, who was a lover both of war and ofwisdom, selected and first of all settled that spot which was the most likely toproduce men likest herself. And there you dwelt, having such laws as these andstill better ones, and excelled all mankind in all virtue, as became the children anddisciples of the gods.

before the great deluge...Athens was first inwar...best governed ...noblest...fairest... city.

Solon, ...You are welcome tohear...of the goddess ...who is our commonpatron and parent...

She founded your city a1,000 years beforeours,... our registers are... 8,000 years old.

I will inform you of...the exact particulars...in the sacred registers...at our leisure...compare(your) laws with ours...the caste of priests ...artificers...shepherds...hunters... husbandmen;and ...warriors..

(their) weapons...areshields and spears, astyle...of Asiatics...

Then as to wisdom...ourlaw... studied... divineelements...adding everysort of knowledge...

(Athene) chose... whereyou were born, in a landthat would produce thewisest of men... whoexcelled all mankind inall virtue and became...disciples of the gods

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Introduction to the war and the destruction of two ancient Empires

Many great and wonderful deeds are recorded of your state in our histories. Butone of them exceeds all the rest in greatness and valour. For these histories tell ofa mighty power which unprovoked made an expedition against the whole ofEurope and Asia, and to which your city put an end.

This power came forth out of the Atlantic Ocean, for in those days the Atlanticwas navigable; and there was an island situated in front of the straits which are byyou called the Pillars of Heracles; the island was larger than Libya and Asia puttogether, and was the way to other islands, and from these you might pass to thewhole of the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean; for this seawhich is within the Straits of Heracles is only a harbour, having a narrow entrance,but that other is a real sea, and the surrounding land may be most truly called aboundless continent.

Now in this island of Atlantis there was a great and wonderful empire which hadrule over the whole island and several others, and over parts of the continent,and, furthermore, the men of Atlantis had subjected the parts of Libya within thecolumns of Heracles as far as Egypt, and of Europe as far as Tyrrhenia. This vastpower, gathered into one, endeavoured to subdue at a blow our country andyours and the whole of the region within the straits; and then, Solon, your countryshone forth, in the excellence of her virtue and strength, among all mankind. Shewas pre-eminent in courage and military skill, and was the leader of the Hellenes.And when the rest fell off from her, being compelled to stand alone, after havingundergone the very extremity of danger, she defeated and triumphed over theinvaders, and preserved from slavery those who were not yet subjugated, andgenerously liberated all the rest of us who dwell within the pillars. But afterwardsthere occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night ofmisfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island ofAtlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. For which reason thesea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mudin the way; and this was caused by the subsidence of the island.

I have told you briefly, Socrates, what the aged Critias heard from Solon andrelated to us. And when you were speaking yesterday about your city and citizens,the tale which I have just been repeating to you came into my mind, and I remarkedwith astonishment how, by some mysterious coincidence, you agreed in almostevery particular with the narrative of Solon; but I did not like to speak at themoment. For a long time had elapsed, and I had forgotten too much; I thoughtthat I must first of all run over the narrative in my own mind, and then I wouldspeak. And so I readily assented to your request yesterday, considering that in allsuch cases the chief difficulty is to find a tale suitable to our purpose, and thatwith such a tale we should be fairly well provided.

(Atlantis)...a mighty power...madean expedition against ...Europe & Asia...

there was an island infront of....the Pillars ofHeracles...the Islandwas larger than Libya &Asia...and was the wayto other islands, ...fromthese you pass to...aboundless continent.

Atlantis had subjected...Libya...as far as Egypt...and Europe as far asTyrrhenia...Solon, yourcountry... was the leaderof the Hellenes ... shedefeated and triumphedover the invaders ...afterwards...violentearthquakes & floods...& all your warlike men... sank into the earth...

Atlantis disappeared...the sea in those parts isimpenetrable...becausethere is a shoal of mud

I have told you briefly,Socrates, what the agedCritias heard fromSolon

I must first of all runover the narrative inmy own mind...

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Critias offers to tell this ancient tale, which is a fact and not a fiction

And therefore, as Hermocrates has told you, on my way home yesterday I at oncecommunicated the tale to my companions as I remembered it; and after I leftthem, during the night by thinking I recovered nearly the whole it. Truly, as isoften said, the lessons of our childhood make wonderful impression on ourmemories; for I am not sure that I could remember all the discourse of yesterday,but I should be much surprised if I forgot any of these things which I have heardvery long ago.

I listened at the time with childlike interest to the old mans narrative; he was veryready to teach me, and I asked him again and again to repeat his words, so thatlike an indelible picture they were branded into my mind. As soon as the daybroke, I rehearsed them as he spoke them to my companions, that they, as well asmyself, might have something to say. And now, Socrates, to make an end mypreface, I am ready to tell you the whole tale. I will give you not only the generalheads, but the particulars, as they were told to me.

The city and citizens, which you yesterday described to us in fiction, we will nowtransfer to the world of reality. It shall be the ancient city of Athens, and we willsuppose that the citizens whom you imagined, were our veritable ancestors, ofwhom the priest spoke; they will perfectly harmonise, and there will be noinconsistency in saying that the citizens of your republic are these ancient Athenians.Let us divide the subject among us, and all endeavour according to our abilitygracefully to execute the task which you have imposed upon us.

Consider then, Socrates, if this narrative is suited to the purpose, or whether weshould seek for some other instead.

Soc. And what other, Critias, can we find that will be better than this, which isnatural and suitable to the festival of the goddess, and has the very great advantageof being a fact and not a fiction? How or where shall we find another if we abandonthis? We cannot, and therefore you must tell the tale, and good luck to you; and Iin return for my yesterdays discourse will now rest and be a listener.

Crit. Let me proceed to explain to you, Socrates, the order in which we havearranged our entertainment.

Our intention is, that Timaeus, who is the most of an astronomer amongst us, andhas made the nature of the universe his special study, should speak first, beginningwith the generation of the world and going down to the creation of man; next, Iam to receive the men whom he has created of whom some will have profited bythe excellent education which you have given them; and then, in accordance withthe tale of Solon, and equally with his law, we will bring them into court and makethem citizens, as if they were those very Athenians whom the sacred Egyptianrecord has recovered from oblivion, and thence forward we will speak of them asAthenians and fellow-citizens.

...therefore, on my wayhome yesterday ... and...during the night bythinking I recoverednearly the whole it.

...very long ago...

I listened to the old man... I asked again & againto repeat his tale...solike an indelible picturethey were branded intomy mind...I am ready totell you the whole tale...

...we will now transferto the world of reality...the citizens whom youimagined, were ourveritable ancestors, ofwhom the priest spoke;

...is... this narrative issuited to the purpose?

what other, Critias, ...is...suitable...and has the very greatadvantage of being afact and not a fiction?

Let me explain the order...of..our entertainment.

Timaeus, an astronomer...first...next, I.. will...make them citizens...whom the ...Egyptianrecord has recovered...and...we will speak ofthem as Athenians andfellow-citizens.

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The Dialogue of Critias, by Plato:

Critias prays for knowledge and asks forbearance

Timaeus. How thankful I am, Socrates, that I have arrived at last, and, like aweary traveller after a long journey, may be at rest! And I pray the being whoalways was of old, and has now been by me revealed, to grant that my words mayendure in so far as they have been spoken truly and acceptably to him; but ifunintentionally I have said anything wrong, I pray that he will impose upon me ajust retribution, and the just retribution of him who errs is that he should be setright. Wishing, then, to speak truly in future concerning the generation of thegods, I pray him to give me knowledge, which of all medicines is the most perfectand best. And now having offered my prayer I deliver up the argument to Critias,who is to speak next according to our agreement.

Critias. And I, Timaeus, accept the trust, and as you at first said that you weregoing to speak of high matters, and begged that some forbearance might be shownto you, I too ask the same or greater forbearance for what I am about to say. Andalthough I very well know that my request may appear to be somewhat anddiscourteous, I must make it nevertheless. For will any man of sense deny thatyou have spoken well? I can only attempt to show that I ought to have moreindulgence than you, because my theme is more difficult; and I shall argue that toseem to speak well of the gods to men is far easier than to speak well of men tomen: for the inexperience and utter ignorance of his hearers about any subject isa great assistance to him who has to speak of it, and we know how ignorant weare concerning the gods. But I should like to make my meaning clearer, if Timaeus,you will follow me.

All that is said by any of us can only be imitation and representation. For if weconsider the likenesses which painters make of bodies divine and heavenly, andthe different degrees of gratification with which the eye of the spectator receivesthem, we shall see that we are satisfied with the artist who is able in any degree toimitate the earth and its mountains, and the rivers, and the woods, and the universe,and the things that are and move therein, and further, that knowing nothing preciseabout such matters, we do not examine or analyze the painting; all that is requiredis a sort of indistinct and deceptive mode of shadowing them forth. But when aperson endeavours to paint the human form we are quick at finding out defects,and our familiar knowledge makes us severe judges of any one who does notrender every point of similarity. And we may observe the same thing to happen indiscourse; we are satisfied with a picture of divine and heavenly things which hasvery little likeness to them; but we are more precise in our criticism of mortal andhuman things. Wherefore if at the moment of speaking I cannot suitably expressmy meaning, you must excuse me, considering that to form approved likenessesof human things is the reverse of easy. This is what I want to suggest to you, andat the same time to beg, Socrates, that I may have not less, but more indulgenceconceded to me in what I am about to say. Which favour, if I am right in asking,I hope that you will be ready to grant.

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I pray him to give meknowledge, which of allmedicines is the mostperfect and best....I deliver up theargument to Critias,...

I, (Critias), ... accept thetrust,...and ask ...forbearance

I shall argue that...to speak well of thegods to men is far easierthan to speak well ofmen to men: for theinexperience & ... utterignorance.... of hishearers ...concerningthe gods... I should...make my meaningclearer...if ...you willfollow me.

All that is said by any ofus can only be imitation... considerthe likenesses whichpainters make of bodiesdivine & heavenly,...anindistinct... shadowingthem...is all that isrequired...when a personendeavours to paint thehuman form......we are more precise inour criticism of mortaland human things.

I... beg, Socrates, ...your indulgence...

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Socrates. Certainly, Critias, we will grant your request, and we will grant thesame by anticipation to Hermocrates, as well as to you and Timaeus; for I have nodoubt that when his turn comes a little while hence, he will make the same requestwhich you have made. In order, then, that he may provide himself with a freshbeginning, and not be compelled to say the same things over again, let himunderstand that the indulgence is already extended by anticipation to him. Andnow, friend Critias, I will announce to you the judgment of the theatre. They areof opinion that the last performer was wonderfully successful, and that you willneed a great deal of indulgence before you will be able to take his place.

Hermocrates. The warning, Socrates, which you have addressed to him, I mustalso take to myself. But remember, Critias, that faint heart never yet raised atrophy; and therefore you must go and attack the argument like a man. Firstinvoke Apollo and the Muses, and then let us hear you sound the praises andshow forth the virtues of your ancient citizens.

Crit. Friend Hermocrates, you, who are stationed last and have another in front ofyou, have not lost heart as yet; the gravity of the situation will soon be revealed toyou; meanwhile I accept your exhortations and encouragements. But besides thegods and goddesses whom you have mentioned, I would specially invokeMnemosyne; for all the important part of my discourse is dependent on her favour,and if I can recollect and recite enough of what was said by the priests and broughthither by Solon, I doubt not that I shall satisfy the requirements of this theatre.And now, making no more excuses, I will proceed.

Introduction of the combatants of the war

Let me begin by observing first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of yearswhich had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place betweenthose who dwelt outside the Pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt within them;this war I am going to describe.

Of the combatants on the one side, the city of Athens was reported to have beenthe leader and to have fought out the war; the combatants on the other side werecommanded by the kings of Atlantis, which, as was saying, was an island greaterin extent than Libya and Asia, and when afterwards sunk by an earthquake, becamean impassable barrier of mud to voyagers sailing from hence to any part of theocean.

Certainly, Critias,...

indulgence is alreadyextended...

...attack the argument .

...invoke Apollo and theMuses... sound thepraises & ...virtues ofyour ancient citizens.

Friend,...the gravity ofthe situation will soonbe revealed to you;...

invoke Mnemosyne;...recollect and recite...no more excuses,..I will proceed

Let me begin... 9,000years ...elapsed sincethe war... between...Athens...&... Atlantis...

(Atlantis) was anisland... larger thanLibya & Asia,... sunkby an earthquake...became an impassablebarrier of mud...

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I must describe first ofall Athenians of that dayand their enemies... Letus give the precedenceto Athens.

In the days of old ...theearth was distributedamong (the gods)...and (they) peopled theirown districts,... tendedus...as shepherds ...theydid not use... bodilyforce... holding oursouls by the rudder ofpersuasion...-thus didthey guide all mortals.

Hephaestus & Athene...united ...in the love ofphilosophy and art...obtained... this land... ..their actions havedisappeared... byreason of destruction...when there were anysurvivors ... they wereignorant of the art ofwriting...and had heard only thenames of the chiefs ......but very little abouttheir actions.

this is reason... thenames of the ancientshave been preserved tous and not their actions

History of the Hellenes; Hephaestus & Athene found ancient Athens

The progress of the history will unfold the various nations of barbarians andfamilies of Hellenes which then existed, as they successively appear on the scene;but I must describe first of all Athenians of that day, and their enemies who foughtwith them, and then the respective powers and governments of the two kingdoms.Let us give the precedence to Athens.

In the days of old the gods had the whole earth distributed among them byallotment. There was no quarrelling; for you cannot rightly suppose that the godsdid not know what was proper for each of them to have, or, knowing this, thatthey would seek to procure for themselves by contention that which more properlybelonged to others. They all of them by just apportionment obtained what theywanted, and peopled their own districts; and when they had peopled them theytended us, their nurselings and possessions, as shepherds tend their flocks,excepting only that they did not use blows or bodily force, as shepherds do, butgoverned us like pilots from the stern of the vessel, which is an easy way ofguiding animals, holding our souls by the rudder of persuasion according to theirown pleasure;-thus did they guide all mortal creatures. Now different gods hadtheir allotments in different places which they set in order.

Hephaestus and Athene, who were brother and sister, and sprang from the samefather, having a common nature, and being united also in the love of philosophyand art, both obtained as their common portion this land, which was naturallyadapted for wisdom and virtue; and there they implanted brave children of thesoil, and put into their minds the order of government; their names are preserved,but their actions have disappeared by reason of the destruction of those whoreceived the tradition, and the lapse of ages. For when there were any survivors,as I have already said, they were men who dwelt in the mountains; and they wereignorant of the art of writing, and had heard only the names of the chiefs of theland, but very little about their actions. The names they were willing enough togive to their children; but the virtues and the laws of their predecessors, theyknew only by obscure traditions; and as they themselves and their children lackedfor many generations the necessaries of life, they directed their attention to thesupply of their wants, and of them they conversed, to the neglect of events thathad happened in times long past; for mythology and the enquiry into antiquity arefirst introduced into cities when they begin to have leisure, and when they seethat the necessaries of life have already been provided, but not before. And this isreason why the names of the ancients have been preserved to us and not theiractions. This I infer because Solon said that the priests in their narrative of thatwar mentioned most of the names which are recorded prior to the time of Theseus,such as Cecrops, and Erechtheus, and Erichthonius, and Erysichthon, and thenames of the women in like manner.

15

Classes of citizens in ancient Athens

Moreover, since military pursuits were then common to men and women, themen of those days in accordance with the custom of the time set up a figure andimage of the goddess in full armour, to be a testimony that all animals whichassociate together, male as well as female, may, if they please, practise in commonthe virtue which belongs to them without distinction of sex.

Now the country was inhabited in those days by various classes of citizens;-therewere artisans, and there were husbandmen, and there was also a warrior classoriginally set apart by divine men. The latter dwelt by themselves, and had allthings suitable for nurture and education; neither had any of them anything oftheir own, but they regarded all that they had as common property; nor did theyclaim to receive of the other citizens anything more than their necessary food.And they practised all the pursuits which we yesterday described as those of ourimaginary guardians.

Description of the remnant of Attica

Concerning the country the Egyptian priests said what is not only probable butmanifestly true, that the boundaries were in those days fixed by the Isthmus, andthat in the direction of the continent they extended as far as the heights of Cithaeronand Parnes; the boundary line came down in the direction of the sea, having thedistrict of Oropus on the right, and with the river Asopus as the limit on the left.The land was the best in the world, and was therefore able in those days tosupport a vast army, raised from the surrounding people. Even the remnant ofAttica which now exists may compare with any region in the world for the varietyand excellence of its fruits and the suitableness of its pastures to every sort ofanimal, which proves what I am saying; but in those days the country was fair asnow and yielded far more abundant produce.

How shall I establish my words? and what part of it can be truly called a remnantof the land that then was? The whole country is only a long promontory extendingfar into the sea away from the rest of the continent, while the surrounding basinof the sea is everywhere deep in the neighbourhood of the shore.

Many great deluges have taken place during the nine thousand years, for that isthe number of years which have elapsed since the time of which I am speaking;and during all this time and through so many changes, there has never been anyconsiderable accumulation of the soil coming down from the mountains, as inother places, but the earth has fallen away all round and sunk out of sight. Theconsequence is, that in comparison of what then was, there are remaining onlythe bones of the wasted body, as they may be called, as in the case of smallislands, all the richer and softer parts of the soil having fallen away, and the mereskeleton of the land being left.

... military pursuits werethen common to menand women,... withoutdistinction of sex.

-there were artisans,...husbandmen, . . . andwarriors... (who) dweltby themselves...had ...suitable...nurture andeducation...(and) hadcommon property;...

Concerning the country...the boundaries were...fixed by the Isthmus,... having Oropus on the right...&the river Asopus...on theleft. The land was thebest in the world...(onlya) remnant of Attica...now exists...

...what can be trulycalled a remnant of theland that then was?

Many great delugeshave taken place ...during the 9,000 years,..earth has fallen away allround and sunk...thereare...only the bones ...as...small islands ... themere skeleton of theland being left.

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The primal state of ancient Athens and the extraordinary inundation

But in the primitive state of the country, its mountains were high hills coveredwith soil, and the plains, as they are termed by us, of Phelleus were full of richearth, and there was abundance of wood in the mountains. Of this last the tracesstill remain, for although some of the mountains now only afford sustenance tobees, not so very long ago there were still to be seen roofs of timber cut fromtrees growing there, which were of a size sufficient to cover the largest houses;and there were many other high trees, cultivated by man and bearing abundanceof food for cattle.

Moreover, the land reaped the benefit of the annual rainfall, not as now losing thewater which flows off the bare earth into the sea, but, having an abundant supplyin all places, and receiving it into herself and treasuring it up in the close clay soil,it let off into the hollows the streams which it absorbed from the heights, providingeverywhere abundant fountains and rivers, of which there may still be observedsacred memorials in places where fountains once existed; and this proves thetruth of what I am saying.

Such was the natural state of the country, which was cultivated, as we may wellbelieve, by true husbandmen, who made husbandry their business, and were loversof honour, and of a noble nature, and had a soil the best in the world, and abundanceof water, and in the heaven above an excellently attempered climate.

Now the city in those days was arranged on this wise. In the first place the Acropoliswas not as now.

For the fact is that a single night of excessive rain washed away the earth and laidbare the rock; at the same time there were earthquakes, and then occurred theextraordinary inundation,

which was the third before the great destruction of Deucalion.

But in the primitivestate of the country...(it had) high hills...plains...rich earth...wood...(&) havingabundant food (&) ...having an abundantsupply (of water)...

everywhere abundantfountains and rivers...once existed;...of whichthere may still beobserved...memorials...this proves the truth ofwhat I am saying.

true husbandmen, ...lovers of honour,...& ofa noble nature... had thebest (soil) in the world

...in those days...theAcropolis was not asnow...a single night ofrain washed away theearth & at the sametime... earthquakes ...then... the extraordinaryinundation...

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Physical boundaries and culture of ancient Athens

But in primitive times the hill of the Acropolis extended to the Eridanus andIlissus, and included the Pnyx on one side, and the Lycabettus as a boundary onthe opposite side to the Pnyx, and was all well covered with soil, and level at thetop, except in one or two places.

Outside the Acropolis and under the sides of the hill there dwelt artisans, and suchof the husbandmen as were tilling the ground near; the warrior class dwelt bythemselves around the temples of Athene and Hephaestus at the summit, whichmoreover they had enclosed with a single fence like the garden of a single house.On the north side they had dwellings in common and had erected halls for diningin winter, and had all the buildings which they needed for their common life,besides temples, but there was no adorning of them with gold and silver, for theymade no use of these for any purpose; they took a middle course between meannessand ostentation, and built modest houses in which they and their childrens childrengrew old, and they handed them down to others who were like themselves, alwaysthe same. But in summer-time they left their gardens and gymnasia and dininghalls, and then the southern side of the hill was made use of by them for the samepurpose.

Where the Acropolis now is there was a fountain, which was choked by theearthquake, and has left only the few small streams which still exist in the vicinity,but in those days the fountain gave an abundant supply of water for all and ofsuitable temperature in summer and in winter.

This is how they dwelt, being the guardians of their own citizens and the leadersof the Hellenes, who were their willing followers. And they took care to preservethe same number of men and women through all time, being so many as wererequired for warlike purposes, then as now-that is to say, about twenty thousand.

Such were the ancient Athenians, and after this manner they righteouslyadministered their own land and the rest of Hellas; they were renowned all overEurope and Asia for the beauty of their persons and for the many virtues of theirsouls, and of all men who lived in those days they were the most illustrious. Andnext, if I have not forgotten what I heard when I was a child, I will impart to youthe character and origin of their adversaries. For friends should not keep theirstories to themselves, but have them in common.

in primitive timesthe..Acropolis extendedto...Eridanus...to...Pnyx

Outside the Acropolis...dwelt artisans, and...husbandmen...(and)the warrior class...dwelt...around the temples ofAthene and Hephaestusat the summit...theymade no use of (gold &silver)... and builtmodest houses...

...the Acropolis...fountain,...was chokedby the earthquake...

the leaders,...took careto preserve the samenumber of men andwomen...about 20,000.

the ancient Athenians, ..administered their ownland and the rest ofHellas.. they wererenowned ...for theirbeauty and for the manyvirtues of their souls,...

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Why the original writing has Hellenic names

Yet, before proceeding further in the narrative, I ought to warn you, that youmust not be surprised if you should perhaps hear Hellenic names given toforeigners. I will tell you the reason of this: Solon, who was intending to use thetale for his poem, enquired into the meaning of the names, and found that theearly Egyptians in writing them down had translated them into their own language,and he recovered the meaning of the several names and when copying them outagain translated them into our language.

My great-grandfather, Dropides, had the original writing, which is still in mypossession, and was carefully studied by me when I was a child Therefore if youhear names such as are used in this country, you must not be surprised, for I havetold how they came to be introduced.

Poseidon and Cleito found the City of Atlantis

The tale, which was of great length, began as follows:-

I have before remarked in speaking of the allotments of the gods, that theydistributed the whole earth into portions differing in extent, and made forthemselves temples and instituted sacrifices. And Poseidon, receiving for his lotthe island of Atlantis, begat children by a mortal woman, and settled them in apart of the island, which I will describe.

Looking towards the sea, but in the centre of the whole island, there was a plainwhich is said to have been the fairest of all plains and very fertile. Near the plainagain, and also in the centre of the island at a distance of about fifty stadia, therewas a mountain not very high on any side.

In this mountain there dwelt one of the earth born primeval men of that country,whose name was Evenor, and he had a wife named Leucippe, and they had anonly daughter who was called Cleito. The maiden had already reached womanhood,when her father and mother died; Poseidon fell in love with her and had intercoursewith her, and breaking the ground, inclosed the hill in which she dwelt all round,making alternate zones of sea and land larger and smaller, encircling one another;there were two of land and three of water, which he turned as with a lathe, eachhaving its circumference equidistant every way from the centre, so that no mancould get to the island, for ships and voyages were not as yet. He himself, beinga god, found no difficulty in making special arrangements for the centre island,bringing up two springs of water from beneath the earth, one of warm water andthe other of cold, and making every variety of food to spring up abundantly fromthe soil.

.. you must not besurprised if you ...hearHellenic names... Solon,...enquired into themeaning of the names,...(and) translated theminto (Greek)

My great-grandfather,had the original writing,which is still in mypossession...

Poseidon, receiving forhis lot the island ofAtlantis, begat childrenby a mortal woman,...

there was a plain whichis said to have been thefairest ...and very fertilewith a mountain...

there dwelt ...Cleito...Poseidon fell in lovewith her...and breakingthe ground, inclosed thehill...so ...no man couldget to the island,...He...brought up twosprings of water ... oneof warm water and theother of cold...makingevery variety of food tospring up abundantlyfrom the soil.

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The Kings of Atlantis and their portions of the Empire

He also begat and brought up five pairs of twin male children; and dividing theisland of Atlantis into ten portions, he gave to the first-born of the eldest pair hismothers dwelling and the surrounding allotment, which was the largest and best,and made him king over the rest; the others he made princes, and gave them ruleover many men, and a large territory. And he named them all; the eldest, who wasthe first king, he named Atlas, and after him the whole island and the ocean werecalled Atlantic. To his twin brother, who was born after him, and obtained as hislot the extremity of the island towards the Pillars of Heracles, facing the countrywhich is now called the region of Gades in that part of the world, he gave thename which in the Hellenic language is Eumelus, in the language of the countrywhich is named after him, Gadeirus. Of the second pair of twins he called oneAmpheres, and the other Evaemon. To the elder of the third pair of twins he gavethe name Mneseus, and Autochthon to the one who followed him. Of the fourthpair of twins he called the elder Elasippus, and the younger Mestor. And of thefifth pair he gave to the elder the name of Azaes, and to the younger that ofDiaprepes. All these and their descendants for many generations were theinhabitants and rulers of divers islands in the open sea; and also, as has beenalready said, they held sway in our direction over the country within the Pillars asfar as Egypt and Tyrrhenia.

Now Atlas had a numerous and honourable family, and they retained thekingdom, the eldest son handing it on to his eldest for many generations; and theyhad such an amount of wealth as was never before possessed by kings andpotentates, and is not likely ever to be again, and they were furnished witheverything which they needed, both in the city and country.

Geography and abundant natural resources of the Island of Atlantis

For because of the greatness of their empire many things were brought to themfrom foreign countries, and the island itself provided most of what was requiredby them for the uses of life. In the first place, they dug out of the earth whateverwas to be found there, solid as well as fusile, and that which is now only a nameand was then something more than a name, orichalcum, was dug out of the earthin many parts of the island, being more precious in those days than anythingexcept gold.

There was an abundance of wood for carpenters work, and sufficient maintenancefor tame and wild animals. Moreover, there were a great number of elephants inthe island; for as there was provision for all other sorts of animals, both for thosewhich live in lakes and marshes and rivers, and also for those which live inmountains and on plains, so there was for the animal which is the largest andmost voracious of all.

Poseidon also begat ...five pairs of twin malechildren;

Atlas/GadeirusAmpheres/EvaemonMneseus/ AutochthonElasippus/MestorAzaes/ Diaprepes

...All these and theirdescendants for manygenerations were theinhabitants and rulers ofdivers islands in theopen sea..within thePillars...

Atlas had a ... family,and they retained thekingdom, ... for manygenerations; and theyhad possessed wealth...

many things werebrought...from foreigncountries, and the islanditself provided most ofwhat was required......orichalcum, was dugin...the island...

There was... wood...sufficient maintenancefor animals...elephants...lakes and marshes andrivers,...mountains and...plains

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Also whatever fragrant things there now are in the earth, whether roots, or herbage,or woods, or essences which distil from fruit and flower, grew and thrived in thatland; also the fruit which admits of cultivation, both the dry sort, which is givenus for nourishment and any other which we use for food-we call them all by thecommon name pulse, and the fruits having a hard rind, affording drinks and meatsand ointments, and good store of chestnuts and the like, which furnish pleasureand amusement, and are fruits which spoil with keeping, and the pleasant kinds ofdessert, with which we console ourselves after dinner, when we are tired of eating-all these that sacred island which then beheld the light of the sun, brought forthfair and wondrous and in infinite abundance. With such blessings the earth freelyfurnished them; meanwhile they went on constructing their temples and palacesand harbours and docks. And they arranged the whole country in the followingmanner:

The citizens of Atlantis build their city

First of all they bridged over the zones of sea which surrounded the ancientmetropolis, making a road to and from the royal palace. And at the very beginningthey built the palace in the habitation of the god and of their ancestors, whichthey continued to ornament in successive generations, every king surpassing theone who went before him to the utmost of his power, until they made the buildinga marvel to behold for size and for beauty. And beginning from the sea they boreda canal of three hundred feet in width and one hundred feet in depth and fiftystadia in length, which they carried through to the outermost zone, making apassage from the sea up to this, which became a harbour, and leaving an openingsufficient to enable the largest vessels to find ingress. Moreover, they divided atthe bridges the zones of land which parted the zones of sea, leaving room for asingle trireme to pass out of one zone into another, and they covered over thechannels so as to leave a way underneath for the ships; for the banks were raisedconsiderably above the water.

The zones of land & sea; the wall around the city; towers, gates and bridges

Now the largest of the zones into which a passage was cut from the sea was threestadia in breadth, and the zone of land which came next of equal breadth; but thenext two zones, the one of water, the other of land, were two stadia, and the onewhich surrounded the central island was a stadium only in width. The island inwhich the palace was situated had a diameter of five stadia. All this including thezones and the bridge, which was the sixth part of a stadium in width, theysurrounded by a stone wall on every side, placing towers and gates on the bridgeswhere the sea passed in.

...roots, or herbage, orwoods, or essences...from fruit and flower,thr ived. . .a ffordingdrinks and meats andointments,...all...brought forth in infiniteabundance...meanwhile they went onconstructing...

First of all they bridgedover the zones of sea...they built the palace ...they made the buildinga marvel to behold...beginning from the seathey bored a canal...tothe outermost zone,making a...harbour...they divided the zonesat the bridges...and ...covered ... the channels

the largest of the zones... was three stadia inbreadth ...but the next 2zones,...were 2 stadia,and...one was a stadiumonly in width... theywere surrounded by astone wall...

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They quarried rock, hollowed out docks, and coated the walls with metals

The stone which was used in the work they quarried from underneath the centreisland, and from underneath the zones, on the outer as well as the inner side. Onekind was white, another black, and a third red, and as they quarried, they at thesame time hollowed out double docks, having roofs formed out of the nativerock. Some of their buildings were simple, but in others they put together differentstones, varying the colour to please the eye, and to be a natural source of delight.

The entire circuit of the wall, which went round the outermost zone, they coveredwith a coating of brass, and the circuit of the next wall they coated with tin, andthe third, which encompassed the citadel, flashed with the red light of orichalcum.

The palaces and temples in the citadel of Atlantis

The palaces in the interior of the citadel were constructed on this wise:-in thecentre was a holy temple dedicated to Cleito and Poseidon, which remainedinaccessible, and was surrounded by an enclosure of gold; this was the spot wherethe family of the ten princes first saw the light, and thither the people annuallybrought the fruits of the earth in their season from all the ten portions, to be anoffering to each of the ten.

Here was Poseidons own temple which was a stadium in length, and half a stadiumin width, and of a proportionate height, having a strange barbaric appearance. Allthe outside of the temple, with the exception of the pinnacles, they covered withsilver, and the pinnacles with gold. In the interior of the temple the roof was ofivory, curiously wrought everywhere with gold and silver and orichalcum; and allthe other parts, the walls and pillars and floor, they coated with orichalcum.

In the temple they placed statues of gold: there was the god himself standing in achariot-the charioteer of six winged horses-and of such a size that he touched theroof of the building with his head; around him there were a hundred Nereidsriding on dolphins, for such was thought to be the number of them by the men ofthose days. There were also in the interior of the temple other images which hadbeen dedicated by private persons.

And around the temple on the outside were placed statues of gold of all thedescendants of the ten kings and of their wives, and there were many other greatofferings of kings and of private persons, coming both from the city itself andfrom the foreign cities over which they held sway. There was an altar too, whichin size and workmanship corresponded to this magnificence, and the palaces, inlike manner, answered to the greatness of the kingdom and the glory of the temple.

The stone which wasused in the work... waswhite, another black,and a third red,... theyput together stones, tobe a source of delight.

they covered...the walls. . .wi th. . .brass . . . t in...and...orichalcum.

in the Citadels centrewas a holy templededicated to Cleito andPoseidon ... and thitherthe people annuallybrought an offering ...

Poseidons own temple...had a strange barbaricappearance...All theoutside of the temple,...they covered with silver... and gold...

In the temple theyplaced statues of gold:there was the god...in achariot...a100 Nereidsriding dolphins...andother images...

And around the temple...were placed statues ofgold...of the ten kings..and many other greatofferings...There was analtar too...

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The fountains, aqueducts, docks, gardens and guardhouses of the Citadel

In the next place, they had fountains, one of cold and another of hot water, ingracious plenty flowing; and they were wonderfully adapted for use by reason ofthe pleasantness and excellence of their waters. They constructed buildings aboutthem and planted suitable trees, also they made cisterns, some open to the heavens,others roofed over, to be used in winter as warm baths; there were the kingsbaths, and the baths of private persons, which were kept apart; and there wereseparate baths for women, and for horses and cattle, and to each of them theygave as much adornment as was suitable. Of the water which ran off they carriedsome to the grove of Poseidon, where were growing all manner of trees ofwonderful height and beauty, owing to the excellence of the soil, while theremainder was conveyed by aqueducts along the bridges to the outer circles; andthere were many temples built and dedicated to many gods; also gardens andplaces of exercise, some for men, and others for horses in both of the two islandsformed by the zones; and in the centre of the larger of the two there was set aparta race-course of a stadium in width, and in length allowed to extend all round theisland, for horses to race in. Also there were guardhouses at intervals for theguards, the more trusted of whom were appointed-to keep watch in the lesserzone, which was nearer the Acropolis while the most trusted of all had housesgiven them within the citadel, near the persons of the kings. The docks were fullof triremes and naval stores, and all things were quite ready for use. Enough ofthe plan of the royal palace.

Leaving the palace and passing out across the three you came to a wall whichbegan at the sea and went all round: this was everywhere distant fifty stadia fromthe largest zone or harbour, and enclosed the whole, the ends meeting at themouth of the channel which led to the sea. The entire area was densely crowdedwith habitations; and the canal and the largest of the harbours were full of vesselsand merchants coming from all parts, who, from their numbers, kept up amultitudinous sound of human voices, and din and clatter of all sorts night andday.

The nature and arrangement of the rest of the land of Atlantis

I have described the city and the environs of the ancient palace nearly in thewords of Solon, and now I must endeavour to represent the nature and arrangementof the rest of the land. The whole country was said by him to be very lofty andprecipitous on the side of the sea, but the country immediately about andsurrounding the city was a level plain, itself surrounded by mountains whichdescended towards the sea; it was smooth and even, and of an oblong shape,extending in one direction three thousand stadia, but across the centre inland itwas two thousand stadia. This part of the island looked towards the south, andwas sheltered from the north. The surrounding mountains were celebrated fortheir number and size and beauty, far beyond any which still exist, having in themalso many wealthy villages of country folk, and rivers, and lakes, and meadowssupplying food enough for every animal, wild or tame, and much wood of varioussorts, abundant for each and every kind of work.

they had fountains, ...ofcold...and hot water...in gracious plentyflowing; ... they...warmbaths;... some waterwent to the grove ofPoseidon...and the rest...by aqueducts alongthe bridges to the outercircles;...there weremany temples...alsogardens and places ofexercise,...and ...a race-course

...Also there wereguardhouses......The docks were full oftriremes and navalstores...all..ready foruse.

...a wall which began atthe sea and went allround... the ends meeting at the mouthof the channel...Theentire area was denselycrowded...

The whole country was...lofty & precipitous onthe side of the sea... thecountry ...surroundingthe city was a levelplain, ... surrounded bymountains...its smooth...&...oblong, ... 3,000stadia by 2,000 stadia...with...rivers...lakes...&... meadows...supplyingabundant food...

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How the Island of Atlantis was created; and the canal system

I will now describe the plain, as it was fashioned by nature and by the labours ofmany generations of kings through long ages. It was for the most part rectangularand oblong, and where falling out of the straight line followed the circular ditch.The depth, and width, and length of this ditch were incredible, and gave theimpression that a work of such extent, in addition to so many others, could neverhave been artificial. Nevertheless I must say what I was told. It was excavated tothe depth of a hundred, feet, and its breadth was a stadium everywhere; it wascarried round the whole of the plain, and was ten thousand stadia in length. Itreceived the streams which came down from the mountains, and winding roundthe plain and meeting at the city, was there let off into the sea. Further inland,likewise, straight canals of a hundred feet in width were cut from it through theplain, and again let off into the ditch leading to the sea: these canals were atintervals of a hundred stadia, and by them they brought down the wood from themountains to the city, and conveyed the fruits of the earth in ships, cuttingtransverse passages from one canal into another, and to the city. Twice in the yearthey gathered the fruits of the earth-in winter having the benefit of the rains ofheaven, and in summer the water which the land supplied by introducing streamsfrom the canals.

The military order of the royal city; and the requisitions for the war

As to the population, each of the lots in the plain had to find a leader for the menwho were fit for military service, and the size of a lot was a square of ten stadiaeach way, and the total number of all the lots was sixty thousand. And of theinhabitants of the mountains and of the rest of the country there was also a vastmultitude, which was distributed among the lots and had leaders assigned tothem according to their districts and villages. The leader was required to furnishfor the war the sixth portion of a war-chariot, so as to make up a total of tenthousand chariots; also two horses and riders for them, and a pair of chariot-horses without a seat, accompanied by a horseman who could fight on foot carryinga small shield, and having a charioteer who stood behind the man-at-arms toguide the two horses; also, he was bound to furnish two heavy armed soldiers,two slingers, three stone-shooters and three javelin-men, who were light-armed,and four sailors to make up the complement of twelve hundred ships. Such wasthe military order of the royal city-the order of the other nine governments varied,and it would be wearisome to recount their several differences.

.

I will now describe theplain ... it was fashionedby nature and by thelabours...of many kingsthrough long ages...Thedepth,...width, & lengthof this ditch wereincredible...it...carriedround the whole of theplain,...meeting at thecity...straight canals of ahundred feet in widthwere cut from it...cutting transversepassages from one canalinto another and to thecity ...

As to the population,each of the 60,000 lotsin the plain had to finda leader...who wasrequired to furnish ...thesixth portion of a war-chariot...two horses andriders ... two chariot-horses...a horseman... acharioteer...two heavyarmed soldiers, twoslingers, three stone-shooters and threejavelin-men,...and foursailors...

24

The ancient ceremonial slaying of the bull was adapted by many cultures. The Taurobolium ofMithras (above) depicts Mithras, the god of truth, justice and war, reluctantly slaying theprimordial bull. As the honorable bull died, the world came into being and order was born.The other animals represent the constellations of Taurus, Scopius, Hydra and Canis Major;and Sirius. The worship of Mithras was widespread in Persia, India and the Roman Empire,until the secret teachings of Mithras were destroyed by followers of a new religion, Christianity.

Mithras killing the bull, artist unknown, Africa

25

The commands of Poseidon, were inscribed on a pillar of orichalcum

As to offices and honours, the following was the arrangement from the first.Each of the ten kings in his own division and in his own city had the absolutecontrol of the citizens, and, in most cases, of the laws, punishing and slayingwhomsoever he would. Now the order of precedence among them and their mutualrelations were regulated by the commands of Poseidon which the law had handeddown. These were inscribed by the first kings on a pillar of orichalcum, whichwas situated in the middle of the island, at the temple of Poseidon, whither thekings were gathered together every fifth and every sixth year alternately, thusgiving equal honour to the odd and to the even number. And when they weregathered together they consulted about their common interests, and enquired ifany one had transgressed in anything and passed judgment and before they passedjudgment they gave their pledges to one another on this wise:-

The slaying of the Bull Ceremony; and the Golden Tablets

There were bulls who had the range of the temple of Poseidon; and the ten kings,being left alone in the temple, after they had offered prayers to the god that theymight capture the victim which was acceptable to him, hunted the bulls, withoutweapons but with staves and nooses; and the bull which they caught they led upto the pillar and cut its throat over the top of it so that the blood fell upon thesacred inscription.

Now on the pillar, besides the laws, there was inscribed an oath invoking mightycurses on the disobedient. When therefore, after slaying the bull in the accustomedmanner, they had burnt its limbs, they filled a bowl of wine and cast in a clot ofblood for each of them; the rest of the victim they put in the fire, after havingpurified the column all round. Then they drew from the bowl in golden cups andpouring a libation on the fire, they swore that they would judge according to thelaws on the pillar, and would punish him who in any point had already transgressedthem, and that for the future they would not, if they could help, offend against thewriting on the pillar, and would neither command others, nor obey any ruler whocommanded them, to act otherwise than according to the laws of their fatherPoseidon.

This was the prayer which each of them-offered up for himself and for hisdescendants, at the same time drinking and dedicating the cup out of which hedrank in the temple of the god; and after they had supped and satisfied theirneeds, when darkness came on, and the fire about the sacrifice was cool, all ofthem put on most beautiful azure robes, and, sitting on the ground, at night, overthe embers of the sacrifices by which they had sworn, and extinguishing all thefire about the temple, they received and gave judgment, if any of them had anaccusation to bring against any one; and when they given judgment, at daybreakthey wrote down their sentences on a golden tablet, and dedicated it togetherwith their robes to be a memorial.

Each of the ten kings ...had the absolute controlof the citizens,...theirmutual relations wereregulated by thecommands of Poseidon...inscribed...on a pillarof orichalcum,... Andwhen they weregathered together they... passed judgment and...gave their pledges...

There were bulls at thetemple of Poseidon; andthe ten kings, hunted thebulls,...the victim...theyled up to the pillar andcut its throat...

Now on the pillar,besides the laws, therewas inscribed an oath...after slaying the bull...they purified the column...they swore that theywould judge accordingto the laws on thepillar,...the laws of their fatherPoseidon.

This was the prayerwhich each of them-offered up ... whendarkness came on,... allof them put on mostbeautiful azure robes, ...they...gave judgment,...and they wrote downtheir sentences on agolden tablet...

26

For many generations, the divine nature lasted in within them

There were many special laws affecting the several kings inscribed about thetemples, but the most important was the following: They were not to take uparms against one another, and they were all to come to the rescue if any one inany of their cities attempted to overthrow the royal house; like their ancestors,they were to deliberate in common about war and other matters, giving thesupremacy to the descendants of Atlas. And the king was not to have the powerof life and death over any of his kinsmen unless he had the assent of the majorityof the ten.

Such was the vast power which the god settled in the lost island of Atlantis; andthis he afterwards directed against our land for the following reasons, as traditiontells: For many generations, as long as the divine nature lasted in them, they wereobedient to the laws, and well-affectioned towards the god, whose seed theywere; for they possessed true and in every way great spirits, uniting gentlenesswith wisdom in the various chances of life, and in their intercourse with oneanother. They despised everything but virtue, caring little for their present stateof life, and thinking lightly of the possession of gold and other property, whichseemed only a burden to them; neither were they intoxicated by luxury; nor didwealth deprive them of their self-control; but they were sober, and saw clearlythat all these goods are increased by virtue and friendship with one another, whereasby too great regard and respect for them, they are lost and friendship with them.

The divine portion began to fade away, and became diluted

By such reflections and by the continuance in them of a divine nature, the qualitieswhich we have described grew and increased among them; but when the divineportion began to fade away, and became diluted too often and too much with themortal admixture, and the human nature got the upper hand, they then, beingunable to bear their fortune, behaved unseemly, and to him who had an eye to seegrew visibly debased, for they were losing the fairest of their precious gifts; butto those who had no eye to see the true happiness, they appeared glorious andblessed at the very time when they were full of avarice and unrighteous power.Zeus, the god of gods, who rules according to law, and is able to see into suchthings, perceiving that an honourable race was in a woeful plight, and wanting toinflict punishment on them, that they might be chastened and improve, collectedall the gods into their most holy habitation, which, being placed in the centre ofthe world, beholds all created things. And when he had called them together, hespake as follows-*

The rest of the Dialogue of Critias has been lost.

There were many ...laws... inscribed aboutthe temples, but themost important was...They were not to takeup arms against oneanother, ... withoutassent of the majority...

For many generations,as long as the divinenature lasted in them,...they were obedient...wel l -affect ioned. . .having true and greatspirits ... nor did wealthdeprive them of theirself-control;...they sawclearly that all thesegoods are increased byvirtue and friendship...

...but when the divineportion began to fadeaway, and becamediluted...with the mortaladmixture,...they grewvisibly debased, ...theywere full of avarice andunrighteous power...Zeus, ...perceiving thatan honourable race wasin a woeful plight, andwanting to... chastenedand improve,...spake asfollows-*

27

Dear fellow Atlantologists,

This epic tale; of war and peace; love and greed; visiting gods and primitive earth-born men is an ancient treasure map to guide our journey to find our ancient heritageand our true Motherland. The location of ancient Atlantis has been debated for overtwo thousand years...

We believe that we have found the location of Atlantis;

The Island Of Atlantis is located beneath the Sea of Azov, with portions in Ukraine & Russia.

The City of Atlantis was located at Kerch, Crimea, Ukraine.

The Citadel of Atlantis was located on Mithridat Hill.

For more information and our the latest updates on our research,visit: atlantis-motherland.com and ATMO.info.

We wish calm seas and fair weather to all our fellow adventurers into the mysteriesof our pre-history. The quest to solve the enchanting secrets of the mighty Empire ofAtlantis and their honorable adversaries, the Empire of the Hellenes is ever enticing.Moreover, our greatest quest is to discover the true origin of our species and ourcivilization and our true purpose for our visit to this beautiful Blue Planet, Earth.

Live in Harmony. Enjoy Life! ~Eagle/Wind

AAcropolis, fountain 17Acropolis, in primitive times 17Acropolis, of Athens 16Acropolis, outside of 17allotments in different places 14Ampheres/Evaemon 19Amynander 6Apaturia 6Apollo and the Muses 13artificial 23Asopus, river 15Athene and Hephaestus 17Athene, founded your city 9Athene, lover of war & wisdom 9Athene, same as Neith 7Athenian city, introduction 5Athenians and fellow-citizens 11Athenians of that day 14Athenians, renowned 17Athens, 8,000 years old. 9Athens, 9,000 years ago 9Athens, castes of 9Athens, introduction 9Athens, primitive state of 16Athens, the leader 13Atlantic Ocean 10Atlantis, disappeared 10Atlas 19Atlas, honourable family 19Atlas/Gadeirus 19Attica, remnant of 15avarice and unrighteous power 26avelin-men 23Azaes/ Diaprepes 19azure robes 25

B

blood, clot of 25bones of the wasted body 15boundless continent 10bridges the zones 20bulls, hunted by kings 25bulls, of the temple of Poseidon 25

C

canal, from the sea 20canals, straight 23Cecrops 14chariot, of Helios 7chariot-horses 23

chariot-the charioteer 21charioteer 23chastened and improve 26circular ditch 23Cithaeron and Parnes 15citizens of your republic 11Cleito 18Cleito and Poseidon 21columns of Heracles 10commands of Poseidon 25common patron and parent 9common property 15Critias, my grandfather 5Critias, nearly ninety 6culture of ancient Athens 17

Ddeluges, many previous 8descendants of Atlas 26destitute of letters 8Deucalion and Pyrrha 7Deucalion, destruction of 16disciples of the gods 9distinction of sex 15divine elements 9divine nature 26divine nature, 26divine portion began to fade 26Dropides, had the original writing 18Dropides, told story to Critias 5

Eearth has fallen away 15earthquake, afterwards sunk by 13earthquake, choked fountain 17earthquakes and floods 10earthquakes, in Attica 16Egyptian Delta 7Elasippus/Mestor 19elephants 19enclosure of gold 21Erechtheus 14Erichthonius 14Eridanus and Ilissus 17Erysichthon 14Europe and Asia 10, 17Evenor 18extraordinary inundation 16

Ffact and not a fiction 11fairest and noblest race 8

families of Hellenes 14festival, worthy of the goddess 5fifth and every sixth year alternately 25floods, and eathquakes 10fountain, choked by earthquake 17fountains once existed 16

GGades 19generations of kings 23god, whose seed they were 26goddess in full armour 15gods purge the earth 8gold and silver and orichalcum 21golden cups 25golden tablet 25great and wonderful deeds 10gymnasia 17

Hharbour 20harbour, Atlantis 20harbours and docks 20heavy armed soldiers 23Helios 7Hellas 17Hellenes, no old opinion 7Hellenic names 18Hephaestus 9Hephaestus and Athene 14Hermocrates 13hollowed out double docks 21Homer 6horses, six winged 21human nature 26

Iimitation and representation 12impassable and impenetrable 10impassable barrier of mud 13incredible, ditch 23intoxicated by luxury 26inundation, extraordinary 16island of Atlantis 18Isthmus 15ivory, temple roof was of 21

Jjavelin-men 23judgment, received and gave 25

Index

KKing Amasis 7kings of Atlantis 13

L

lakes and marshes and rivers 19laws, compare with Egyptian 9laws, inscribed about temple 26laws on the pillar 25leader of the Hellenes 10Leucippe, 18Libya and Asia 10, 13lost island of Atlantis 26Lycabettus 17

M

man-at-arms 23Many great deluges 15memorial. 25military service 23Mnemosyne 13Mneseus/ Autochthon 19mortal admixture 26mountain not very high 18

N

narrow entrance 10nations of barbarians 14Neith, foundress of Egypt 7Nereids riding on dolphins 21Nile, never-failing saviour 7nine thousand years elapsed 13Niobe 7no quarrelling 14not a mere legend 6not to take up arms 26nurselings and possessions 14

O

orichalcum 19original writing, still in my possession

18Oropus 15

P

Paethon, the son of Helios 7painters, likenesses they make 12palace, marvel to behold 20Phelleus 16Phoroneus 7pillar of orichalcum 25Pillars of Heracles 10, 13, 19pinnacles with gold 21plain, description of 23plain, fairest & fertile 18Pnyx 17poems of Solon 6

Poseidon, commands of 25Poseidon fell in love 18Poseidon, receiving for his lot 18Poseidons own temple 21prophecy and medicine 9pulse, and the fruits 20purified the column 25

Q

quarried rock 21quarried, stone 21

R

rain, excessive 16Registration of Youth 6remnant of Attica 15royal city-the order of 23

S

sacred inscription 25sailors 23Sais, district of 7ships 23shoal of mud 10single day and night 10six winged horses 21skeleton of the land 15slavery, preserved from 10slingers 23small islands 15Socrates 5solid as well as fusile 19Solon, came to Sais 7Solon, noblest of poets 6Solon, translates writings 18Solon, wisest of the seven sages 5springs of water 18statues of gold 21stone, quarried 21stone wall on every side 20Straits of Heracles 10stream from heaven 8

T

tales of children 8tame and wild animals 19temples of Athene 17ten kings and of their wives 21ten kings in his own division 25Ten Kings, passed judgment 25ten princes first saw the light 21Theseus 14Timaeus, astronomer 11tone-shooters 23towers and gates 20trireme 20Twice in the year 23Tyrrhenia 10

V

violent earthquakes and floods 10virtue and friendship 26

W

war-chariot 23warlike men, sank 10world of reality 11

Z

Zeus, spake as follows 26Zeus, the god of gods 26zones and the bridge 20zones of sea 20zones of sea and land 18

ContentsCritias, Hermocrates, Timaeus and Socrates; gather to plan a festival Critias memorized Solon's poem, of the ancient Athenians, in his youth Solon traveled to Egypt, and met a priest of very great age The Myth of Helios, explained as a natural astronomical event: Why the Egyptians have ancient records; and the Greeks do not: The aged priest describes ancient Athens to Solon: Introduction to the war and the destruction of two ancient Empires Critias offers to tell this ancient tale, which is a fact and not a fiction Critias prays for knowledge and asks forbearance Introduction of the combatants of the war History of the Hellenes; Hephaestus & Athene found ancient Athens Classes of citizens in ancient Athens Description of the remnant of Attica The primal state of ancient Athens and the extraordinary inundation Physical boundaries and culture of ancient Athens Why the original writing has Hellenic names Poseidon and Cleito found the City of Atlantis The Kings of Atlantis and their portions of the Empire Geography and abundant natural resources of the Island of Atlantis The citizens of Atlantis build their city The zones of land & sea; the wall around the city; towers, gates and bridges They quarried rock, hollowed out docks, and coated the walls with metals The palaces and temples in the citadel of Atlantis The fountains, aqueducts, docks, gardens and guardhouses of the Citadel The nature and arrangement of the rest of the land of Atlantis How the Island of Atlantis was created; and the canal system The military order of the royal city; and the requisitions for the war The commands of Poseidon, were inscribed on a pillar of orichalcum The slaying of the Bull Ceremony; and the Golden Tablets For many generations, the divine nature lasted in within them The divine portion began to fade away, and became diluted We believe that we have found the location of Atlantis;

AAcropolis, fountain Acropolis, in primitive times Acropolis, of Athens Acropolis, outside of allotments in different places Ampheres/Evaemon Amynander Apaturia Apollo and the Muses artificial Asopus, river Athene and Hephaestus Athene, founded your city Athene, lover of war &am